Camping stove with convertible baffle and shelf

ABSTRACT

A camp stove is provided having a convertible baffle and shelf. In an embodiment, a convertible baffle and shelf is hinged to one side of a firebox of the camp stove. The convertible baffle and shelf is folded upward and attached to a lid for the camp stove to serve as a baffle. The convertible baffle and shelf is folded downward, to a position horizontal with the ground, so that it may be used as a shelf. In an embodiment, the baffle extends outward away from the camping stove when it serves the shelf function. However, in an alternate embodiment, the baffle may fold inward relative to the stove surface to serve the shelf function.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stoves, and more particularly relatesto camp stoves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable camp stoves are often used by campers for preparing foods at acamp site. Typically, such camp stoves include a pair of burners, a fuelsupply, a collapsible lid, and baffles to screen sides of the stove fromwind. The baffles typically attach to the lid and are folded against thelid for storage. To store a camp stove, the baffles are folded to thelid, and the lid is folded over the stove burners. The burners areusually mounted within a firebox, and closing the lid over the fireboxforms a box-like enclosure around the burners. The enclosure may then bestored in a cardboard box, or may be stored as is.

The fuel supply for conventional camp stoves is typically eitherkerosene or propane. If kerosene is utilized, the kerosene tank istypically mounted to the stove, for example along the front of thestove. The tank is typically disconnected during storage. For campstoves that utilize propane, a propane bottle is typically attached tothe camp stove, for example, at the front, back, or one of the sides ofthe camp stove. Again, like the kerosene tank, the propane bottle istypically removed during storage.

Although camp stoves work well for their intended purpose, often thereis little-to-no storage space for items used in connection with the campstove during operation of the camp stove. For example, in general, thereis no place on a conventional camp stove to place cooking utensils,food, and food preparation items, absent placing the items directly on acooking surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with an embodiment, a camp stove is provided having atleast one convertible baffle and shelf that may be positioned in oneconfiguration to be used as a baffle and in another configuration to beused as a shelf. In an embodiment, a convertible baffle and shelf ishinged to one side of a firebox of the camp stove. The convertiblebaffle and shelf is folded upward and attached to a lid for the campstove to serve as a baffle. The convertible baffle and shelf is foldeddownward, to a position horizontal with the ground, so that it may beused as a shelf. In an embodiment, the baffle extends outward away fromthe camping stove when it serves the shelf function. However, in analternate embodiment, the baffle may fold inward relative to the stovesurface to serve the shelf function.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a camp stove incorporating anembodiment of the invention, the camp stove shown in a closedconfiguration; and

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the camp stove of FIG. 1, with thecamp stove opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specificconfigurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may beomitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment beingdescribed.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsrepresent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a campstove 20 incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. As can beseen in FIG. 2, the camp stove 20 includes a firebox 22, having situatedalong its upper surface a grill 24 and a griddle 26. In the embodimentshown, the stove 20 includes two burners 28, only one of which is shownin FIG. 2. However, aspects of the present invention may be utilized ina camp stove having one burner, or more than two burners. Moreover,aspects of the present invention may be utilized in a camp stove havingjust one or more grill surfaces, just one or more griddle surfaces, anycombination of grill and griddle surfaces, and/or a camp stove havingcooking surfaces other than grills or griddles.

The camp stove 20 includes a pair of control knobs 30, 32 mounted on thefront of the firebox 22. In the embodiment shown, a propane bottle 34 isattached to a right rear section of the firebox 22. However, aspects ofthe present invention may be utilized with a camp stove using other fuelsources, including but not limited to kerosene, other liquid or gassources, and/or charcoal grills.

In the embodiment shown, the camp stove 20 includes a lid 40 connectedto the firebox 22 by a latch 42 and hinges (not shown, but known in theart). The lid 40 may be closed when the burners 28 are off, and providesprotection for the burners. Closing the lid 40 over the firebox 22 formsa box-like enclosure around the burners 28. The box-like enclosed campstove 20 may then be stored in a cardboard box, or may be stored as is.

The camp stove 20 also includes left and right convertible baffles andshelves 44, 46. In the embodiment shown, the convertible baffles andshelves 44, 46 are substantially planar, and each includes a roundedbottom 48. Angled brackets 50 extend from the bottom edge of the roundedbottom 48 into slots 52, 54 at outer, upper edges of the firebox 42. Theangled brackets 50 are received in the slots 52, 54 in such a manner sothat the convertible baffles and shelves 44, 46 may be rotated about anaxis extended parallel with the rounded bottom 48 of the convertiblebaffles and shelves 44, 46.

A rear upper edge of each of the baffles 44, 48 includes a slottedopening 56. The slotted opening 56 is arranged and configured to fitonto protrusions 58 on the underside of the lid 40.

In use, the convertible baffles and shelves 44, 46 are stored in a flatposition against the top of the grill 24 and the griddle 26. Thisposition is shown in phantom in FIG. 1 for both of the convertiblebaffles and shelves 44, 46 and again is shown in phantom in FIG. 2 forthe right convertible baffle and shelf 46.

To utilize the convertible baffles and shelves 44, 46 as wind blocks(i.e., baffles), the lid 40 is raised, and each of the convertiblebaffles and shelves is raised so that it extends vertically. The leftconvertible baffle and shelf 44 is shown in this position in FIG. 2. Tolock the convertible baffles and shelves 44, 46 in this position, theslotted openings 56 are fitted onto the protrusions 58. In this manner,the convertible baffles and shelves 44, 46 may both be raised andattached to the lid 40 so that the three elements serve as a three-sidedwind block for the cooking surface of the camp stove 20, i.e., in theembodiment shown, the grill 24 and the griddle 26.

To utilize one of the convertible baffles and shelves, such as theconvertible baffle and shelf 46, as a shelf, the convertible baffle andshelf may be folded inward to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2.In this position, the shelf extends over the griddle 26. It is notrecommended that the stove 20 be operated with the griddle 26 hot andthe convertible baffle and shelf 46 in the folded inward position, butthe convertible baffle and shelf 46 may be used in its folded inwardposition when, for example, only the grill 24 of the stove 20 is inoperation. In this configuration, items may be placed on the back sideof the convertible baffle and shelf 46, such as food, food preparationitems, cooking utensils, or other items.

In another shelf configuration, the convertible baffle and shelf 46 isfolded outward to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, theangled brackets 50 and the rounded bottom 48 engage the top and outersurfaces of the firebox 22, and prevent further rotation of theconvertible baffle and shelf 46 downward. Thus, the convertible baffleand shelf 46 extends outward, in a horizontal direction. The convertiblebaffle and shelf 46 may thus be used as a shelf, and may receive manyitems, such as the items listed above. The convertible baffle and shelf44 may similarly be utilized as a shelf in this manner.

Although one type of convertible baffle and shelf is shown in thedrawings, other configurations are contemplated. For example,convertible baffle and shelf may include a lock for locking the baffleinto the shelf position, and may include a chain or some other memberthat suspends the baffle in the open position. In addition, although asingle type of hinge is shown, alternate hinge systems may be used.Further, a convertible baffle and shelf may be used in which theconvertible baffle and shelf does not hinge to the firebox 22, butinstead connects or is otherwise rearranged to provide baffle and shelffunctions. As one example, a baffle may be removable, and may beconnected in a first vertical position to act as a baffle, and in asecond horizontal position to act as a shelf.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus,while the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof isshown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of rangesof values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method ofreferring individually to each separate value falling within the range,unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitationon the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A camp stove, comprising: a structure that is convertible between: afirst position where the structure may serve as a baffle; and a secondposition where the structure may serve as a shelf.
 2. The camp stove ofclaim 1, wherein in the first position the structure extendssubstantially vertically.
 3. The camp stove of claim 2, wherein in thesecond position the structure extends substantially horizontally.
 4. Thecamp stove of claim 1, wherein in the second position the structureextends substantially horizontally.
 5. The camp stove of claim 1,further comprising a lid, and wherein the structure is attachable to thelid in the first position.
 6. The camp stove of claim 5, wherein one ofthe lid and the structure includes a projection, and the other of thelid and the structure includes an opening that fits onto the protrusionwhen the structure is in the first position.
 7. The camp stove of claim5, wherein the lid extends along a back of the camp stove when in anopened position, and wherein the structure extends along a side of thecamp stove when in the first position.
 8. The camp stove of claim 1,wherein the structure is hinged to the camp stove.
 9. The camp stove ofclaim 8, wherein the structure includes a surface that contacts the campstove when in the second position to prevent rotation past the secondposition.
 10. The camp stove of claim 9, wherein the surface comprises arounded bottom of the structure.
 11. The camp stove of claim 1, furthercomprising a firebox, and wherein the structure extends beyond thefirebox when in the second position.
 12. The camp stove of claim 1,further comprising a firebox, and wherein the structure extends over thefirebox when in the second position.
 13. A camp stove, comprising: afirebox; and a structure that is hinged to the fire box so that it isconvertible between: a first position where the structure may serve as abaffle; and a second position where the structure may serve as a shelf.15. The camp stove of claim 13, wherein in the first position thestructure extends substantially vertically.
 16. The camp stove of claim15, wherein in the second position the structure extends substantiallyhorizontally.
 17. The camp stove of claim 13, wherein in the secondposition the structure extends substantially horizontally.
 18. The campstove of claim 13, further comprising a lid, and wherein the structureis attachable to the lid in the first position.
 19. The camp stove ofclaim 18, wherein one of the lid and the structure includes aprojection, and the other of the lid and the structure includes anopening that fits onto the protrusion when the structure is in the firstposition.
 20. The camp stove of claim 18, wherein the lid extends alonga back of the camp stove when in an opened position, and wherein thestructure extends along a side of the camp stove when in the firstposition.
 21. The camp stove of claim 13, wherein the structure includesa surface that contacts the camp stove when in the second position toprevent rotation past the second position.
 22. The camp stove of claim21, wherein the surface comprises a rounded bottom of the structure. 23.The camp stove of claim 13, wherein the structure extends beyond thefirebox when in the second position.
 24. The camp stove of claim 13,wherein the structure extends over the firebox when in the secondposition.